Adjusting mechanism for clothesracks and similar devices



Sept. 4, 1923. 1,466,859

E. D. SUTTON ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR CLOTHESRACKS AND SIMILAR DEVICES Filed Jan. 5, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' E. D; SUTTON ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR CLOTHESRACKS AND"SIMILAR DEVICES Filed Jan. 5. 1922 2 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR. jrizasiljuzbn Patented Sept. 4, 1923.

UNITED-stares nea 7 rare " ERNEST'YD. sorromor aoonns'rna, NEVVYORKQV Application filed J'anuary 3, 1922. Serial-No. 528,644.]

To all'whomz't may concern:

Be itknown that I, ERNEST D. SUTTON, a citizen of the United States. of America, residing at Rochester, in the county oflVlonroe and State of New .York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Adjusting Mechanism for Clothesracks and Similar Devices, of which the following is a specification. I My invention relates to clothes racks, and is also applicable to other structures where it is desirable to adjust a device to different positions, as for instance,,either vertically, horizontally, or various angular arrangements between such limits.

The invention has for its purpose toafford a practicable and simplified mechanism by which a rack can be moved manually to any desired position, and is automatically locked in such adjusted position. A further purpose of the improvement is to provide a construction in which the locking operation depends upon a gravity dog or other member that is automatically released when the adjustable device reaches its uppermost position so as to permit it to be returned to itslowermost position, the looking member also beingv automatically returned to its locking position as the adjustable device reaches its lowermost position, following which the adjustable device can be elevated and locked in any intermediate position. j a a To these ends, the invention consists inithe arrangement and combination ofpartsthat will appear clearly'from the following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claims following the specification.

In the. drawings j Figure 1 is a side elevation of a clothes rack witha preferred embodiment of'the invention applied thereto, andshowing, in

dotted lines, different possible adjustments of the movable device or clothes carrying p0rtion;. j

. Figure 2is a plan'view of the parts illustrated in Figure 1;; V V r s 'Figure 3 is'a side elevation of the lockring mechanism, showing theposition of the tion;

of applications,

'r F Q parts with the 'adjustab-ledevice in horizontal position l lg'ure 4 1s a similar view showing the ad ustabledevice elevated and locked in an;

intermediate position;

V igure 5 is a'similar 'viewishowing;the. 1 position of the parts as the adjustable device reaches its uppermost position, causing the gravity dog to be moved to releasingposi- Figure (Sis a similarview illustratingthe position ofthe parts as the adjustable device reaches its lowermost or horizontal position, the gravity dog being returned toits lock- 111%130Slt-l0n, and

lgure 7 1s a sectional view on line 7-7 Figure 3. I

- The invention is'suscptible of a variety having marked utility wherever it is desired to adjust and retain a clothes rack, carrier, or similar device, in

different angular positions with reference to a' stationary support, and for convenience of illustration Ihave shown the invention as applied to a towel or clothes rack, as an example of one practical embodiment.

Referring more-in detail tothedrawings;

the structure comprises a. support adapted .to be attached to a wall, and comprising horizontal strips 1, and end piecesor-brackets 2, while 3 designates the adjustable device or carrier that is-pivotally mounted on the support ancl novable to different angular positions thereon.

To this end, the'device 3 has fixedly attached to its side piecesthe circular plates 4 which are journalled on arbors' 5 mounted on the support, while 6 designate lockingniembers consistinggof gravity operated dogs that are pivoted at 7 tov the brackets 2, and coopfperatewith the plates 4 so as to hold the ad'- justable device inany desired 7 position, :as will now be fully set forth.

Each of-the plates 4 is provided with, a se lo r es of ratchet'teeth 8, and as the adjustable "device is moved from its horizontal position upwardly, the dog v6 successively engages said teeth in the manner illustrated in- Fi gure 4, and serves to. retain the carrier 3 in selected p osition,-there being a suitable numb'erof adjustments between the horizon 1 tall and vertical positions, dependent upon the number of ratchet teeth. It is desirable to provide means for automatically releasing the locking dog, to permit the carrier 3 to be returned to its horizontal position, and this is accomplished in the following manner.

As the adjustable device travels upwardly, and preferably as it reaches its uppermost position, illustrated in Figure 5, the surface or portion 9 on the plate 4 engages the tail 10 of the dog, and shifts the dog from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 5, wherebyits weight serves to maintain it in releasing position until it is positively returned to loosing position. lVhen the operator has moved the adjustable device or carrier to the uppermost position shown in Figure 5, the dog has been released .and the carrier can then be swung downwardly to its lowermost or horizontal position. As the carrier approaches its hori- 'zontal position, the surface or portionll on r the plate 4 engages the front end of the dog 6 in the manner shown in Figure 6, and returns the dog by a positive action to the position of Figure 3, where it engages the pocket or surface 12 on the plate f, and maintains the plate 4: in the position illus trated in Figure 3, thus retaining the carrier 3 in its lowermost or horizontal position.

To operate the carrier, it is engaged manually and moved upwardly, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1, and can be left in any angular position by releasing it, whereupon the gravity dog 6 engages the nearest tooth Sand prevents the carrier fro a' lowering. To drop the carrier to its horizontal position, it is first elevated to its uppermost or vertical position, which movement automatically releases the dog 6, as illustrated in Figure 5, and the operator can then swing the carrier back to its lowermost or horizontal position, the latter operation serving automatically to bring the dog back to locking position, as indicated'in Figures 6 and 3.

While I have disclosed the invention with reference to a particular type of mechanism, it is not limited to the precise embodiment set forth, but may be modified or otherwise adapted, this application being intended to cover any departures involving the same general relationship and automatic functioning of a locking member with reference to an adjustably supported device, or'any mechanism coming'within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: 1. The combination with a support, of an adjustable device pivoted thereon, and means for retaining said device in different positions including a member fixedly mounted on one of said elements and having a curved toothed locking member ar ranged concentrically of said ad ustable device, a locking member having a locking portion at its front end cooperating with I said toothed portion, and a tail its rear end, and means carriec by said member and located opposite the toothed portion for engagement with said tail porortion at a tion of the locking member so as to move means carried by saidmember and located opposite the toothed portion for engagement with said tail portion of the locking member tomove the latter out of engagement with the toothed portion as the device travels upwardly, and additional means carried by said member and also located 0pposite the toothed portion for engagement with the front end of the locking member to return the latter to locking position as the device travels downwardly.

3. The combination with a supportpof an adjustable device pivoted thereon, and means for retaining said device in different positions including a plate fixedly mounted on the device, said plate being recessed at one side thereof and having a series of teeth arranged interiorly, and a dog pivoted on the support and housed in said recessed portion of the plate-forcooperation with the teeth, the plate having dog engaging surfaces arranged interiorly for cooperation with the tail'and front end of the dog so-as to release the latter when the device reaches dog when the device reachesits lower-most position. 7 r 4. The combination with a support, of an adjustable device pivoted thereon, j and means for retaining the device in different positions including a plate fixedly mounted on the device, said plate being recessed on the side adjacent to the support, and having a series of teeth arranged aroundthe outer edge of said recess, and a dog pivoted on the support and housed within said: recessed portion of the plate, said plate havits uppermost position and to return the ing dog engaging surfaces formed at the opposite ends of the recess for-cooperating with the dog to move it automatically to release it and to return it to locking position, Y

5. The combination with means for retaining saiddevice indifferent positions including a plate fixedlymounted on one of said elements, the plate being rea support, o'f-an adjustable device "pivoted thereon, and

cessed at one side thereof and having a sefront end of the dog so as to release the ries of teeth arranged interiorly, and a dog latter when the device reaches its upperpivoted on the other of said elements and most position, and to return the dog when 10 housed in said recessed portion of the plate the. dev'icere'aches its lowermost position. 5 for cooperation with the teeth, the plate 7 In witness whereof, I have hereunto having dog engaging surfaces arranged insignedmy name.

teriorly for cooperation withthe tail and V 7 ERNEST D SUTTONa 

